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Little Time, Little Chocolate Mud Cake Cookie Sandwiches

March 10, 2009

I can hardly believe my parents have been here a week already. Actually, I can notice it rather clearly: I only had time to make cookies this week! But these little bites of heaven were enough to keep us talking and eating for a few days! Imagine a chocolate cake with a hint of coffee sandwiched between two dark chocolate shortbread cookies and held together by a dab of chocolate ganache. The combination of textures is just perfect.

A good bit of time is spent around the dinner table catching up, making plans. It's like being on vacation at home. The weather has been gorgeous and we have spent most afternoons out and about, sightseeing, catching the first flower blooms and enjoying the warm, already summer like temperatures. I hope I don't sound like a broken record with my "parent stories" but it is one of the most important things on my agenda right now. I want to write it down and share so I can remember and be reminded. It's a good break for them and a good break for me.

I know B. loves having them around too as he and my mom are like two peas in a pod and he loves catching up with the family "back home". He's been so gracious in giving our "together time" for the next few weeks that I wanted to bake him something special. I know the man loves cookies. Small word if you saw his face when I asked what kind he would like. "Something fun!" he said.

Small cookies are always fun and since it was for him and I know he likes cakes as much as cookies. Mud cake cookie sandwiches fit the bill perfectly. It may sound odd, ok I admit it, it did sound really strange to my parents but trust me, it works. These are probably the best fun bites I have had in a while. Crunch, creamy and soft. They are great with a simple glass of milk but they are also perfect with homemade chocolate sorbet. Pure chocolate therapy.

Preheat oven to 350F.In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add vanilla, then the egg yolks, one at a time, scraping the bottom and side of the bowl in between each addition. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and beat until the dough just starts to come together. Add some heavy cream if the dough still looks very crumbly and dry. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it a little to a small disk and wrap it well in plastic wrap. Refrigerate two hours before using.Lightly flour your work area well and start rolling the dough from the center out, lifting it from the work area every 2-3 times you roll over it. With a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out 48 rounds in the dough, gathering scraps and rerolling as you go (you might need to refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes if it becomes too soft to roll out easily).Place the cookies on 2 parchment lined baking sheets and refrigerate 20 minutes. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool.

Place the chocolate in a medium size bowl and set aside.In a small saucepan set over medium high heat, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly stir the chocolate and cream together until the ganache is completely smooth. Let cool to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 350F. Slightly coat two 8-x12-inch pans with cooking spray and line them with a piece of parchment paper. Slightly coat the parchment paper with cooking spray or vegetable oil.In a small pot set over low heat, combine the butter, chocolate, sugar and water and stir until everything is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat, add the coffee liqueur and let cool to room temperature. Whisk in the egg yolks, then the flour and cocoa powder. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Cut 24 rounds of the same size as the cookies.

To assemble the cookies:Spread a small amount of chocolate ganache under each cookie and sandwich a mud cake round in between two of them. Dust with cocoa powder if desired

They look absolutely delicious. it wouldn't be something I would think of to combine cookies and cake but it seems to make perfect sense! I love your mom and dad stories by the way. I am really enjoying reading about it!

Every day I am left salivating! Your hubby is one lucky man.... but who eats all this? Do you modify your recipes for just one meal so there aren't any left overs?... or do you gift your sweets daily? They are tremendously gorgeous, creative, thoughtful and decadent. I am inspired by you daily - but do want to know what you do with all the treats!Valerie

Valerie: most of my recipes are for 4 or 6 people so we may have the same dessert two days in a row but most of the time I freeze them for later. Everything can be eaten over 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Certain items like large cakes, cookies and macarons are shared with the neighbors and my Pilates students.

Thank you! Thank you! We got our little care package today and we were so happy to be eating these while reading this post! You are the best. After seeing your wonderful pictures, there is no way I will send you the ones I took of my plating...ahahah! Maybe I'll send you one of the boys eating them!xoxo

I am so glad I stumbled upon your beautiful blog! Your baking and images are inspirational. One thing though, would you mind sharing how you made the images sometime for those of us that are particularly interested in the photography aspect. I have really enjoyed visiting!

is that Cath Kidston bowl in the background??anyway, just reading the first paragraph nearly put me in a heart attack. i was this close to breaking Lent for some of these...ganache, chocolate cake, dash of coffee, chocolate biscuits?!?! you're killing me.

I'm impressed you blogged at all while your parents were in town. My mom just left today after a 10 day visit, and I didn't cook or blog the whole time she was here. She's a great cook, so I sat back and let her cook for us since I had to work during the days :)

Fantastic!! I can't believe you have time to make stuff while working on your book and having your parents there. Quite a feat you pulled, I should be ashamed of not blogging more frequently. Love the mud cake chocolate cookie sandwiches!

These look fantastic - can't wait to make them. I will never, ever grow tired of reading of your visit with your parents. Makes me miss mine evermore. Enjoy each and every moment and be sure to tell us about it.

hi helen!looooooooooove your blog :)my sister is coming into town saturday and i wanted to make these for her (a true chocoholic) but i'll be away from the kitchen friday for work...is there anyway i can make these thursday and they'll be ok till saturday? or make the components and assemble saturday morning?thanks so much!!